'Chalo koi toh bol raha hai' - Fans react as former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer demands to revoke Impact player rule from IPL

Ahead of the upcoming IPL auction, former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer has asked the Indian Cricket Board to remove the recently introduced Impact Player rule from the tournament. Jaffer demands that the rule affect India's preparations for the major international tournaments.

In a social media post, Jaffer said, "I think IPL needs to take away the impact player rule, as it's not encouraging the all-rounders to bowl much, and the lack of ARs and batters not bowling is a major area of concern for Indian cricket. Thoughts? #IPL2024 #iplauction2024." It's worth noting that earlier this year, the IPL governing council announced the inclusion of this rule.

The rule allows teams to make a substitution during the game. The impact player can bowl and bat according to the need. However, more than four Forigen players can't be allowed in the game, including substitute players. The Impact Player rule has adversely affected all-rounders as participating teams show reduced reliance on them.

How does the Impact Player Rule affect India's preparations?

Previously, franchises consistently included at least one all-rounder in the playing XI, contributing to a well-balanced squad. However, the current trend involves teams fielding six specialist batters and five bowlers, adjusting the team composition based on the game's dynamics. Wasim Jaffer expresses concern about the long-term impact of this rule on India, emphasising that it doesn't apply to international cricket.

India has struggled to identify new all-rounders, with Hardik Pandya being the solitary figure in recent years. The potential influence of this could be evident in the upcoming IPL 2024 auction scheduled for December 19. Players such as Yuvraj Singh, Chris Morris, and Pat Cummins commanded substantial prices due to their proficiency as all-rounders. However, this season, teams might invest more in batters and bowlers to fully utilise the rule.

Here is how fans react to Wasim Jaffer's comments:

I 100% Agree with you, sir.
We will not see new all-rounders.
Also, Jersey number 7 will extend his career more due to this rule.

— Abhishek Ojha (@vicharabhio) December 10, 2023

Impact rule may added extra fun in IPL but it is not good for Indian cricket team. All rounder like Vijay Shankar, venkatesh Iyer and few others neither bowling for their team. Also it is implemented in domestic cricket which is harmful for Indian team in all rounder perspective

— Kirkett (@bhaskar_sanu08) December 10, 2023

Absolutely spot on. ✅
Just to add some masala in the IPL these new rules are killing the potential utilization of players.

I hope ICC doesn't replicate this rules from IPL. #IPL2024Auction#INDvsSA

— Being Indian 🇮🇳 (@SunilSa02606284) December 10, 2023

Or we could have the IPL inspired Impact Player rule in International Cricket as well 😅

— Vijayakarthikeyan K (@Vijaykarthikeyn) December 10, 2023

Finally someone nailed it. We are constantly struggling to find the jack of all trade players because ipl impact rule is simply killing Allrounders & affecting us in ICC events where for example Aus had the luxury of bowling Maxwell and Head in the finals. Though we too made them…

— Anurag Rekhi (@Dravidict) December 10, 2023

I don't think the impact player rule has anything to do with cricket. It is all about money, we don't have enough 'world-class' cricketers to have 20 teams in the IPL.

With the impact player rule, you will be able to make some pretty great balanced teams that will help achieve…

— TMS 🇮🇳 (@TMS205) December 10, 2023

Impact player rule is to make it more interesting but its also very detrimental to Indian cricket.
We have ARs which needs to be developed and exposed at this stage which won't happen and they will go to internationals directly or never even reach that stage because of lack of…

— Shreya (@shreyamatsharma) December 10, 2023

This Time Mumbai Indians has proper fast bowling all-rounder, So there is full chances of removing the impact player rule.

This is Cinema, This is IPL.

— Ankit (@ankit_bhadu_) December 10, 2023

India always lacked Allrounders and this impact player rule kills the possibility of players shining who can bat and bowl both, as the teams tend to use specialists in both the departments. This will further reduce the scope of allrounders in Indian cricket.

— Jitender Girdhar (@JGirdhar01) December 10, 2023

It will also lead to players like Suyash being left out of the team who was being used as Impact Sub. It is helping more young Indian players to play but yes as you called out lack of ARs & batters bowling is also a major concern.

— Gaurav Gulati (@gulatiLFC) December 10, 2023

Yes. But then, all rounders by nature should be first priority for any budding cricketer to get picked 8/10 times. So the nature of force will remain the same.
Same with fielding capabilities. If two batsman are equally talented, they'll take substitution to less talented…

— Apurv Anand (@apurv_anand) December 10, 2023

Absolutely.
All-Rounders are real game changers. The Impact Player rule ruins their spirit massively!

— ThePsychic (@the_psychic_1) December 10, 2023

100% agreed. International t20 cricket has a big role for ARs. We would suffer in world cups because of this.

— NO CONTEXT VIBE (@No_Context_Vibe) December 10, 2023